100,000 Hunter Women Overdue

THE Cancer Institute of New South Wales is concerned that more than 100,000 women throughout the Hunter have not had a pap test in the last two years.

Dr Richard Abbott, from Scone Medical Practice encourages local women not to be part of that statistic.

“There are many cancers we wish we could screen for with a simple test and for cervical cancer we can do that, so it is a matter of women making themselves a priority and having a pap smear every two years,” said Dr Abbott.

“I appreciate life can get busy and women forget to have it done, so check when you are next at the doctors to see when you last had a test and it can be helpful to schedule a general health check for yourself to coincide with your birthday, ” Dr Richard Abbott said.

Professor David Currow, NSW chief cancer officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, agrees many women are complacent about regular pap tests.

“These days, women are less likely to know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, so they many not feel they are at risk,” said Professor Currow.

“In fact, five women still get diagnosed with cervical cancer every week in NSW, yet 96 percent of cervical cancers could be prevented by regular screening,” Prof David Currow said.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, but in Australia the rates have halved in the past 25 years due to screening.

All women aged 18 to 70 who have ever been sexually active have a Pap test every two years, or one to two years after first sexual activity, whichever is later.